Palestine

These days there is just so much injustice that it is overwhelming and you wonder if anything will ever change.People lives ruined by the greedy and powerful, by fanatics trying to shape the world the way they want it for their own advantage in total disregard for the rights and the lives of others, even those whose lives have barely begun such a Palestinian children arrested and incarcerated by the Israeli military.

Please sign and share the following petition concerning Ahed Tamimi age only 16 who could face up to 10 years in prison. Please act quickly Ahed case goes to court February 6th

Free Ahed Tamimi

Please Sign the letter to world leaders:

“We demand the release of Ahed and all Palestinian children wrongly held in military prisons.

The international community must put an end to the detention and ill-treatment of children in these prisons. Enough is enough.

To Ahed and all the children in Israeli military jails: We stand by your side, and are holding you in our hearts. We will not give up until you are free. You are not alone. ”

More information:

Days ago soldiers stormed my house in the dead of night and dragged my 16 year old daughter to prison. Now my little girl is in a cold cell.

My name is Basim Tamimi. I have dedicated my life to civil resistance. That’s why the army is holding my baby — they want to crush my spirit. But I have been a member of Avaaz for eight years — I have seen the power of this community if we all stand together against injustice.

My little girl’s case goes to court on February 6 — but Israel’s military courts convict 99% of Palestinians, even if they are kids. Please join my urgent call — we’ll deliver it directly to global leaders.”

Here are some little known facts concerning the Palestinian conflict regarding children held as Prisoners by Israel

During the last five decades 45,000 Palestinian children have been detained by the military

“Since 2000, an estimated 12,000 Palestinian children have been
detained by Israeli forces from the occupied West Bank and held in the Israeli military detention
system — many of them are as young as 12 years old. In some cases, even 6 and 7 year olds
have been detained by the military as well. Israel prosecutes between 500 and 700 Palestinian
children in military courts each year, and hundreds more are arrested and released later without
prosecution.

Regardless of our stance on this conflict I am sure most of us will be appalled at this grave mistreatment of children.

More information and further action from Amnesty international.

“16-year-old Palestinian activist Ahed Tamimi could face up to ten years in prison over an altercation with Israeli soldiers in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT).

Ahed, charged with aggravated assault of soldiers and incitement, will also remain in custody until the end of her trial.”

According to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, to which Israel is a state party, the arrest, detention or imprisonment of children must be used only as a measure of last resort and for the shortest appropriate period of time.

Ahed’s detention does not meet this criteria. In fact, nothing the teen has done can justify her continued detention – it is outrageously excessive for such a comparatively small crime and entirely inappropriate for a child. The Israeli authorities must acknowledge this and release her immediately.

“Ahed’s lawyer says she has faced several long and aggressive interrogation sessions, sometimes during the night, and that interrogators have threatened the safety of her family.

Her family says she has also endured several physically-exhausting transfers from prison to court alongside other child detainees, without access to a toilet.

Aylan Kurdi (left) and his brother Galip (right), who died fleeing war and persecution.

This made me want to cry. If this does not break your heart you haven’t got one. Imagine if these children were your son or daughter. Young lives lost forever, so tragic, so sad. The UK needs to take action now! All these people want is somewhere for their children and themselves to be safe, to have the opportunity for a peaceful and fulfilled life just as we all do. I don’t fully understand what is happening in the middle east but know we cannot take everything at face value, the only thing any of us can be sure of is that innocent people are suffering and need help, a sanctuary, a safe haven from the turmoil of war.

Scroll down for Cameron’s and MPs contact details including twitter and e-mail and other ways you can help.

From the Huffington Post

Haunting Image Of Drowned Boy Sums Up Consequences Of ‘The Syrian War In One Photo’

A Turkish gendarmerie soldier moves the body of the Syrian boy who was one of 11 people to die after a boat sunk while trying to reach Greece

“Lying facedown on the shore of a Bodrum beach this haunting image of a drowned Syrian toddler illustrates the perilous risks, and heartbreaking consequences, of the journey tens of thousands of migrant families have undertaken, chasing a better life in countries shuffling responsibility for taking them in.

Yvette Cooper, Shadow Home Secretary, who made a desperate plea on Tuesday for towns and cities up and down the country to each take in ten migrant families, said: “When mothers are desperately trying to stop their babies from drowning when their boat has capsized, when people are being left to suffocate in the backs of lorries by evil gangs of traffickers and when children’s bodies are being washed to shore, Britain needs to act.

“It is heartbreaking what is happening on our continent. We cannot keep turning our backs on this. We can – and must – do more. If every area in the UK took just ten families, we could offer sanctuary to 10,000 refugees. Let’s not look back with shame at our inaction.”

Related LinkSo David Cameron, is this dead Syrian child one of the ‘swarm’ of migrants you fear so much?

Those who have decided not to care will not be moved – but this should be moment when Britain finally finds its compassion

“He looks asleep, far away in dreamland, as if he dropped off after a long day of play and fun, of tricks and naughtiness. His trainers are still on his feet. Did he pester mum and dad until they bought them? His red T-shirt and trousers have rolled up to reveal his tummy. I want to touch his soft, plump tummy, to hold him, wake him gently and dry him off.

But the boy is dead. He drowned in the foaming, blue sea, just off Bodrum in Turkey, a tourist destination for Europeans seeking sun and fun. The waves delivered him to the beach, gently it seems, so intact is the little body.”

“Look at the picture of the washed up toddler if you can bear to. He is a little person, an innocent, who died before he could grow. Think of the chances his parents took and why they felt they had no other choice. How frightened they must have been when they got on to the packed, unsafe boat. Did they drown too? They might have seen their child sink. Imagine that. If they survived, they must wish they hadn’t. We don’t know their names. Maybe we never will. But this is our child now, whoever we are. Even those who support hardline anti-immigration policies, must, I think, feel pity and some urge to help.”